Spray nozzle



p 3, 1940- R. w. DE BAUGH 2,213,627

SPRAY NOZZLE Filed April 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 3, 1940. w 5 UGH 2,213,627

SPRAY NO ZZLE Filed April 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m my 2/ Qm/w Sept. 3, 194-0. I w 5 BAUGH 2,213,627

SPRAY NO ZZLE Filed April 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' 31 vucntom Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAY NOZZLE Application April 15, 1938, Serial No. 202,326

8 Claims.

' This invention relates to spray nozzles for use in cleaning and more particularly to such nozzles as employed in washing drums, tanks, and the,

like.

It is well known that tanks, drums, or barrels in which oil or other liquids are shipped or stored are costly to manufacture and consequently in the interest of economy should be used a plurality of times. However, since these tanks cancomplex machinery to effect such washing of tanks, barrels, and the like, means being provided to move the container with respect to a fixed spray nozzle from which a cleansing fluid is discharged and to' efiect a discharge of the dirt and washing medium after the cleansing operation. This machinery, although effective in cleaning small drums and barrels is not adaptable to cleaning tanks, ships holds, and the like where the size of the container is such that it cannot be moved with respect to the nozzle. Furthermore, if an ordinary hose is used to clean large vessels, there is presented the problem of disposing of the dirt and washing medium after the cleansing operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning nozzle adaptable for use in all sizes and types of containers.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of means cooperating with a reis done by the provision of a suitable valve arrangement and a cooperating arrangement of discharge apertures.

In one embodiment of this invention, the fluid distribution is further assisted by means to cause the nozzle to swirl so that the washing fluid may be activated by centrifugal force as well as the pressure from the fluid supply source.

In View of the fact that the nozzle forming the subject matter of the present invention can be 5 attached to practically any type of conduit'feither flexible or rigid, it is possible to adapt its use to almost any size closure. Naturally, the length of the rigid portion of the connecting conduit will varyin response to the size of the container as the latter gives rise to thenecessity for a longer guiding handle for'accurately directing the cleansing streams to the walls and bottom of the container.

The means by which the foregoing objects are accomplished consist in the provision of a nozzle adapted to fit on any conventional reversible flow fluid supply conduit such as a. hose or the like, the nozzle containing a valve arrangement such that the fluid flowing into the nozzle will be conducted to the spray apertures at predetermined pressure, and when the flow is reversed, a suction orifice will become operative and effectively withdraw the dirt and washing fluid from the vessel being cleaned.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the detailed description following in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a view of the device in operation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View; 7

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modification of the invention; 35

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the suction orifice;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the suction orifice;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modification 40 of the invention showing an alternate device for rotating the nozzle during operation; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view takenalong the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a View of 5 the device in operation showing a suitable pump 4, a supply conduit 2, a nozzle 3, and drum 4. In Figs. 2 and 3, thereis a detailed showing of the structure of one embodiment of the, nozzle 3 constituting a part of the subject matter of the present invention. This nozzleis composed of a shell 5 having an interiorly threaded upper portion 6, and a generally conical lower wall 1, this latter wall being provided with a series of discharge apertures 8. At the base of the lower wall 1, there is a suitably fastened plug 9 provided with a concentric aperture and interiorly threaded at its upper end, and at its lower end there is suitably formed a flared orifice H3 which may be made by crimping together the walls of the plug 9.

In threaded engagement with the interior threads of the drilled plug. 9, there is a tube H which communicates with a valve plate l2 and is spot-welded thereto as shown at it. As will be noted from a consideration of the drawings, valve plate I2 is threaded in a manner adapted to cooperate with the threads of upper wall 6 of the housing 5 of the nozzle as a whole. Since the conduit II is welded to the valve plate 12, it will be seen that the valve plate and the conduit may both be screwed into operative position by a single operation.

Valve plate i2 is provided with a seat Id adapted to receive a ball 35, which ball acts as a valve to control the flow through conduit l l. Forming a cage for this valve are a series of pins it which maintain it in position and insure its proper seating.

In the same valve plate I 2, there is suitable seating IT for a spray valve 18. This latter valve seats against the lower side of valve plate l2, said spray valve I8 being provided with a stem l9 supported by a suitable bearing defined by valve plate 12. At the upper end of stem l9 there is a key 20. Between said key 20 and the upper surface of valve plate l2, there is disposed a helically wound spring 2! which is disposed around valve stem IS. The upper wall i; of the nozzle 3 is also adapted to receive a sleeve 22 which is provided with an annular threaded shoulder 23 which shoulder threadedly engages the upper wall 6 of housing 5 of the nozzle as a whole.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a modification of the present invention in which provision is made for a means to rotate the nozzle, said means being responsive to the pressure and the fluid flow through the nozzle. 3, the valve arrangements, and the orifices are the same as those discussed above in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. The interiorly threaded upper wall 6 of housing 5, however, is somewhat longer and is adapted to receive in addition to the valve plate i2 and the sleeve 22 a rotor supporting disc 24 which is screwed into the cham-.

ber defined by the upper walls 6 of housing 5 between the valve plate I 2 and the annular shoulder 23 of sleeve 22. Within the upper wall 6 of housing 5, there is a suitable aperture at 25 adapted to receive a key 26, said aperture cooperating with another aperture in rotor supporting plate 24, said two apertures when in alignment being adaptable to receive key 26, whereby the rotor is maintained in fixed position within the nozzle 3.

As is more clearly shown in Fig. 5, rotor supporting plate 25 has cut therein a series of radially extending slits and a series of cooperating arcuate slits; by this means it is possibl to constitute the rotor support a blank from which the impeller blades 2'! are made by simply bending the same in a manner such that the advantages incident to a turbine may be obtained.

Positioned within the concentric passageway in the sleeve 22 is an additional sleeve 28, the latter being provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 29 to engage the undersurface of sleeve 22. The upper ends of sleeve 28 are outwardly threaded and are adapted :to receive a The lower portions of nozzle collar 30 which is inwardly threaded. By this means a bearing surface is made between sleeve 28 and sleeve 22 and axial thrust is taken by the lower edge of collar 30 or by the annular flange 29 on sleeve 28 as the case may be. By this construction it will beseen that the nozzle 3 is freely rotatable in response to the action of the fluid pressure on impeller blades 21.

Instead of the blades 21, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a rotor of the type shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be employed. This rotor consists of two volute impellers 32 keyed to the side wall of shell 5. The charge end of the impellers lies free within sleeve 28 around which the nozzle as a 'whole rotates. v The structure of this modification in other respects corresponds exactly to that shown in Figures 4 and .5 and corresponding reference numerals have been used.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, there is shown the detailed structure of suction orifice l0 which is defined at the lower end of concentricallyapertured plug 9. This structure has the advantage of beingrounded as shown at 3| so that it may more readily engage the rounded walls of a tank or the like, and when resting on the bottom, there is a little air space at the sides. The aperture W is generally longitudinal inshape which will prevent the entrance into the nozzle of any material tending to clog either the valves of the nozzle or the pumping system.

When the nozzle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is put into operation by the flow of a fluid under pressure through the concentric aperture in sleeve 22, the fluid exerts its force against the upper wall of the spray valve [8, and when its pressure is suflicient to overcome the thrust of spring 2|, the valve opens and the fluid enters the chamber defined by the lower portion 1 of the shell 5 and is extruded through the apertures ,8 under pressure, thereby creating a spray by means of which the tank or closure is eifectively cleaned. When the cleaning operation has been completed, and it is desired to remove the sludge, dirt, and washing medium from the closure; the flow is reversed. This results in the immediate closing of spray valve i8 by both the action of the spring 2| and the sucking action of the pump. Since spray valve I8 is firmly seated against valve plate l2 at I? during the suction operation, the chamber defined by the lower walls I of the shell 5 will be inactive. Ball valve l5, however, will be lifted from its seat I l in valve plate l2 and the fluid being exhausted from the tank will be drawn in through flared nozzle 9 and the chamber defined bytube 10 out through the opening adjacent valve seat I4 and finally through the conduit connected to the nozzle at sleeve 22. This operation is continued until the contents of the tank are exhausted.

The modifications shown in Figs. land 5 will operate in a manner similar to' those shown in Figs.- 2 and 3, except that the fluid pressure on impeller blades 27 will result in the rotation of nozzle 3 on the bearing surface defined by sleeves 22 and 28. This action will be conducive'to a better fluid distribution in the cleaning operation and a better suction during the exhaust operation, since there is added to the pressure or suction the centrifugal force developed by the rotation of the nozzle.

f In operation, the device shown in Figures 8 and 9 is quite similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, the driving force resulting from the impinging of the fluid from the orifices at the end of the volute tubes ,32 against the wall ;6.

I claim:

1. A combination suction and discharge nozzle adapted for use in cleaning tanks and the like, comprising a combination intake and exhaust passageway communicating with separate chambers, one of said chambers being provided with a plurality of discharge orifices, the other of said chambers being disposed within said first chamber, said second chamber being provided with a single intake orifice, ab all valve controlling the fluid flow through said second chamber into said passageway, and a spring thrust pressure responsive valve controlling the flow through from said passageway into said discharge chamber.

2. A combination suction and discharge nozzle adapted for use in cleaning tanks and the like, comprising in combination means defining intake and exhaust passageways, means in said passageways for selectively directing the flow of fluid through said nozzle, and How responsive means within said nozzle to rotate the same.

3. A combination suction and discharge nozzle adapted for use in cleaning tanks and the like, comprising in combination means defining intake and exhaust passageways, means in said passageways for selectively directing the flow of fluid through said nozzle and a rotor keyed within said nozzle and adapted to cause the same to rotate as fluid is passed therethrough.

4. A combination suction and discharge nozzle adapted for use in cleaning tanks and the like, comprising in combination nieans defining intake and exhaust passageways, means in said passageways for selectively directing the flow of fluid through said nozzle and a voluted tube keyed to said nozzle and adapted to receive a fluid passing through the nozzle to thereby cause the rotation of the latter.

5. A combined suction and discharge device for cleaning tanks and the like with fluids, comprising a fluid supply and withdrawal chamber, means defining intake and exhaust passageways in communication with said chamber, and means in said passageways for selectively permitting the flow of fluid through a passageway dependent upon whether fluid is supplied to or withdrawn from said chamber.

6. A combination suction and discharge device for use in cleaning tanks and the like comprising, means defining a chamber, means defining intake and exhaust passageways in communication with said chamber, means in an exhaust passageway for permitting flow therethrough from said chamber in response to positive pressure in the latter, and means in an intake passageway for permitting flow therethrough to said chamber in response to negative pressure in the latter, whereby the same device may be used for expelling detergent fluids and for removing the fluids and dirt from the tank or the like being cleaned. d

'7. A combination suction and discharge nozzle for use in cleaning tanks and the like comprising, means defining a chamber, means defining intake and exhaust passageways, ports in said chamber permitting communication between the same and said passageways, means in one of said ports for establishing communication between one of said passageways and said chamber in response to positive pressure in the latter, and means in another of said ports responsive to negative pressure in said chamber for establishing communication with another of said passageways, whereby the same nozzle may be used for expelling detergent fluids and for thereafter removing the fluids and the dirt from the tank or the like being cleaned.

8. A combination suction and discharge nozzle for use in cleaning tanks and the like comprising, a primary chamber, an exhaust chamber provided with a plurality of discharge apertures, a suction chamber within said discharge chamber, said suction chamber being provided with a single orifice communicating with the outside of said nozzle, ports in said primary chamber permitting communication between the same and said exhaust and suction chambers, means in one of said ports for establishing communication between said exhaust chamber and said primary chamber in response to positive pressure in the latter, and means in the other of said ports for establishing communication between said suction chamber and said primary chamber in response to negative pressure in the latter, whereby the same nozzle may be used for expelling detergent fluids and for thereafter removing the fluids and the dirt from the tank or the like being cleaned.

ROBERT WILSON DE BAUGH. 

